Toy motor



May 31,1927. J. 1.. CRAVEN TOY MOTOR Filed Jan. 23, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 6m Maw ATTORNEY May 31 1927. 1,631,016

- J. L. CRAVEN TOY MOTOR Filed Jan. 23. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J4. Kiwi e 27 INVENTOR WITNE%4WW ATTORNEY ffmyi w Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN LcaAvEN, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANAA I i r I TOY Moron.

Application filed January be fed into the device through a suitable chute, the device embodying a large number of moving parts which will be extremely in teresting to watch during the operation.

An important object is the provision of a mechanism of this character in which the parts are so arranged that the ballswhich constitute the active means will be returned to theirinitial position and used over and over.

An additional object is the provision of a toy motor of this character which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive to make, easyto install, positive in action, efficient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawingsQin which Figure 1 is a'vertical section through the casing showing a confronting elevation of the mechanism."

Figure 2 is a section Figure 1. 7

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown the device as comprising an upstanding preferably rectangular frame 10 within the upper part of which is located a'suitable support hopper 11 designed to contain balls 12 which might be marbles if desired. This hopper is intended to be filled by means of a chute 12 leading to or from the front of the frame at the top thereof. Leading'from the bottom of the hopper are outwardly diverging outlet chutes 13 with which communication is controlled by means of a slidably mounted plate 1 1 having a: slot within which engagesthe upper end 15 of a lever 16 pivoted intermediate its ends as shown at 17. Mounted beneath the chutes 13 are receivers 18 having outlet openings 19 controlled by means of a plate 20 with which the lower end of the lever 16 is pivotally connected as shown at 21. Obviously when the lever 16 is rocked,

on the line 2-2 of the plates 14: and 20 will be moved altermove upwardly and the gears? associated nately in opposite directions for permitting 23, 1925. Serial No; 4,349.

the balls topass into the chute 18 and from thence into the receivers 18. t I

Journaled at the lower portion of the frame isashaft 22 on which is rotatably mounteddrums23 to which are secured and about which are wrapped cords or other flexible members 24 which are led over guide pulleys 25-at the top of the frame'and which carry buckets QG-adapted to 1 receive the balls dischargedfrom the members 18. The cords 24 are so arranged upon the drums that while one bucket is descending, the other is ascending. At one endtheshaft 22 is shown as equipped with a fly wheel 27 and near its end it carries aspur gear 28 meshing with a pinion '29 on a shaft 30 which likewise carries a fly wheel 31. i}

The drums 23 carry clutchfaces 32' adapt- .ed to be engaged by clutch faces 33 on the ends of a sleeve 34L which-is splined upon the shaft 22 and which carries a sprocket Journaled below the shaft 22 is a shaft 36 carrying a sprocket 37 about which is trained a "chain 38-which is in turn trained about the sprocket 35. The clutch shifting means comprises a double ended lever.39 pivoted at 40 and having its ends rearwardly extended as shownat 41; and disposed in the path of movement of the buckets'26'so that the level will be rocked in one directionzor the other as each bucket'reaches' its lowest position. he lever 39 carries arms d2 engaging against opposite sides of the sprocket 35 and consequently the sleeve 34.

will be shifted to engage the clutches at one end or the other. i

On the ends of the shaft 36 are gears 4-3 which mesh with gears 44: on the lower ends of sleeves 45 within which are splined shafts 46 carrying gears 47 adapted to mesh Wit-l1 gears418 at the outer ends of the drums The'gears 47 have grooved collarsdS) en gagedby levers 50 which are pivoted at 51. Pivotally' connected with the ends of the lever 39 are links52 which are pivoted upon the ends of double ended levers 53 which are pivoted'centrally at 54 and which have their other ends carrying links 55 connected with the'levers 50. When the free end of the lever 39 is moved downwardly by engage ment of a bucket therewith, the outer end of the lever connected therewith will therewith will be slid down out of mesh with the adjacent gear 48. This is done in order to provide for rotation of the shaft 36 always in the same direction as otherwise the movement would be reversed.

Pivoted at 56 below the plate is a lever 57 having forwardly extending ends 58 positioned in the path of movement ofthe buckets so that the lever will be rocked as' the buckets ascend. The lever 57 carries anarm 59 forked;at,60 and engaging apin 61 on the lever 16 so as to swing the latterand operate the plates 14and20.

Journaled at. the upper portion of the frame is a shaft 62 carrying, a sprocket 63 -71 located-below the lowest pointsreached by the buckets 26 so as to receive the balls discharged therefrom and to conduct the balls into such position that they may be engaged and liftedatthe buckets 69, of the endless carriers V x In the operation, the hopper 10 is initially filled with balls 12 and the-device is set 1n motion as for instance bypulling upon; one

' of the flexible members 24.- Whenh bucket 26 ascends, itwill'engage the lever; 57 and rockit so that the forked arm 59 thereon engaging the lever 16Vwill rock the leverand this movement results in sliding the plates 1.4 and 20 in opposite direction, permitting the balls to pass into one of the receivers 18. At this time the bottom of the receiver into which the balls fall is closed while the bottom of a previously 7 filled-receiver is opened by movement of the plate 20. Balls accumulated within the receiver and permit ted to drop therefrom by the movement of the plate 20 will pass into the bucket 26 which is at its highestposition, whereupon this bucket will descend, while the other will ascend and cause rotation ofthe associated drum 23.. At this time this drum has its clutch face inengagement with the clutch face 33 at one end of the sleeve 34. so that as the drum rotates the sleeve 34. will rotate. Upon striking th'e lateral projection'41 on the endof the lever 30, the bucket willtip and the marbles or balls therein will spill out into the chute71 and pass to the hopper 70 so as to be engaged by the buckets 69 and lifted to the top of theframe, at which point the balls will drop from the buckets back into the hopper l1. Vhen a descending bucket strikes against the lever 89, the latter is rocked, and the arms 42 thereon engaging the sprocket will lift the sleeve 34 to engage the clutch device at the outer end thereof, thus making the other drum active. The rotation of the inactive drum is connected bythe gears 48 and 47 and the gears 44'a n'd'43to the shaft 36 which being connected by the sprockets and chain with the drum 34 will assist in rotating the latter. The downward movement of either end of the lever 39 connecting the link 52 and associated lever 53 will operate through the link'55 and lever to shift the gear-47 into. or out of mesh with the'associated gear 48 as the case may be. The action is automatic and continuous aslong as there is a supply ofballs within the hopper: 11 andthis supply must, of course, be replenishedifrom tim-c to tiine-by feeding in more through the chute 12, it being contemplated that means bev provided whereby access maybe had to the interiorv sothat used balls may be withdrawn from the hopper inasi much as they will accumulate therein-faster than they can be moved upwardly by the buckets 69. 1 p From the foregoingdescription and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a very interesting and entertaining toy which is boundto be attractive to the youthful mind. 7 I

Having described the invention, I claim 1. In a device of the character described, a hopper having a pair of discharge chutes in its bottom, receivers located beneath said chutes, slidable platescontrolling communication to the chutes and from the receivers,

trip operated means connected with said plates forsliding the same in opposite direction, a shaft, a pair of drums thereon, flexible members secured to and wrapped about said drums and trained over guide pulleys at the top of the device, buckets carried by said flexible members and adapted to receive from said receivers, balls within the hopper adapted to pass into the buckets alternately for weighting the same, an elevator carrier discharging into the hopper, and an operative connection between the drums and said elevator carrier. 7

2. In a device of the characterdescribed, a hopper having; a pair of discharge chutes in its bottom, receivers located beneath said chutes, slidable plates controlling communi-' cation, to the chutes and from .the receivers, trip operated means connected with said plates for slidingthe same in opposite direction, a shaft, a pair of drums thereon,'flexible members secured to and wrapped about said drums and trained over guide pulleys at the top of the device, buckets carried by said flexible members and adapted to receive from said receivers, balls within. the hopper adapted to pass into the buckets alternately for weighting the same, an elevator carrier discharging into the hopper, andan opera- 5 about said drums and trained over guide tive connection between the drums and said elevator carrier, including a sleeve splined upon said shaft and having clutch faces, clutch faces on the drums and trip operated means for receiving the sleeve.

3. In a device of the character described, a hopper having a pair of discharge chutes in its bottom, receivers located beneath said chutes, slidable plates controlling communication to the chutes and from the receivers, trip operated means connected With said plates for sliding the same in opposite direction, a shaft, a pair of drums thereon, flexible members secured to and Wrapped pulleys at the top of the device, buckets carried by said flexible members and adapted to receive from said receivers, balls Within the hopper adapted to pass into the buckets alternately for Weighting the same, an elevator carrier discharging into the hopper, and an operative connection between the drums and said elevator carrier, a counter shaft operatively connected with the sleeve,

gear connections between the drums and the counter shaft and means for locking either drum for rotation upon its shaft.

7 In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 7

JOHN L. CRAVEN. 

